Heroes & Generals

The transition to Unreal Engine 5 launched on February 13, 2023, marking a significant upgrade for Heroes & Generals, alongside the Kickstarter campaign for Heroes and Generals 2 which aimed to raise $2 million. Players also experienced the launch of Season 3: Frostbite, introducing winter-themed changes and a new Battle Pass.

• New Game Modes: The game introduced various new modes catering to different playstyles, including PvP and Coop PvE.
• Reworked Progression System: A complete overhaul of the progression system enhanced player experience and introduced a new resource and supply system.
• Dynamic Integration of Strategy and Shooter Elements: The game now features a persistent war experience, integrating strategy and shooter gameplay.
• Gold Rush Event: From May 2, 2023, all player accounts had unlimited gold during this limited-time event until May 25, 2023.
• Improved Communication Options: Communication for orders and reinforcements was optimized to reduce reliance on text chat.

Heroes & Generals introduced a major Battle Pass system during this window, beginning with Season 0 on October 21, 2021, which offered players a new way to unlock exclusive rewards. Notable updates included the launch of Battle Pass Season 1: Valiance on March 30, 2022, and Season 2: Ablaze on July 26, 2022, each featuring numerous unique rewards.

• New Tutorial System: Launched a 3-layered tutorial system on October 12, 2022, designed to help new and existing players learn game mechanics.
• Expanded Battle Pass Rewards: Introduced new rewards in the Battle Pass, including weapons, paint jobs, and camouflage gear across various tiers, with Season 0 featuring 120 levels of rewards.
  • Season 0 Launch: Included unique cosmetics and vehicle paint jobs.
  • Season 1 Launch: Expanded rewards to 120 levels with new features.
• Gameplay Changes: Implemented significant adjustments to player progression and game mechanics.
  • New Winning Mechanic: Gaining victory in wars now provided bonuses, including additional Warfunds and XP.
  • Early Player Progression Adjustments: Game modes unlocked at different levels to improve the experience for new players.
• Balance Changes: A balance patch released on May 5, 2022, adjusted vehicle combat, including buffs to tank damage and fighter planes' fire rates.

Essential Ribbon Booster Pack launched on March 30, 2021, enhancing soldier progression with new features. Additionally, nine new DLC packs were released on December 17, 2020, providing instant access to a wealth of gear, soldiers, upgrades, and vehicles. The year also saw the return of limited edition skins for various weapons and aircraft on October 12, 2021.

• New Content:
  • New M36B1 Tank Destroyer for the US launched on September 28, 2021.
  • Introduction of 26 new tank ammunition types on August 25, 2021.
  • Passenger Shootout feature allowed players to shoot while riding in vehicles, introduced on June 29, 2021.
  • New capitals for War Mode were added, including Istanbul and Rome for the US, and Leningrad and Moscow for Germany, on November 24, 2020.
• Gameplay Changes:
  • Assault Team progression was made possible using Warfunds and Gold, introduced on August 25, 2021.
  • The maximum game time was changed to 60 minutes on April 28, 2021.
  • A daily rewards system was implemented, rewarding players for consecutive daily matches starting on April 28, 2021.

• Balance Adjustments:
  • A new rock-paper-scissors balance system for heavy tanks was introduced on June 4, 2021.
  • AP and APCR shell mechanics were revamped to differentiate their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Increased damage for AP shells by 20% was also part of the adjustments on June 4, 2021.

• Seasonal Events:
  • The 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Giveaway took place on October 5, 2021, offering 10 skins.
  • Various events concluded throughout the year, including the Flying Ace Event and the Unstoppable Event, rewarding players based on performance.

Year 4 saw the release of multiple DLCs, including the Medium Tanker Soldier Pack, Light Tanker Soldier Pack, and Heavy Tanker Soldier Pack, all launched on May 29, 2020. Additionally, the game introduced a cockpit view for planes on June 30, enhancing the aerial combat experience. Other notable additions included the captured weapons feature and various weapon balance adjustments.

• DLC Releases: Three new Tanker Soldier Packs launched on May 29, 2020, each featuring different tank arsenals:
  • Medium Tanker Soldier Pack
  • Light Tanker Soldier Pack
  • Heavy Tanker Soldier Pack
• New Gameplay Features:
  • Cockpit View for Planes introduced on June 30, 2020.
  • Captured Weapons Feature enabled players to capture enemy weapons and unlock them at Ribbon Rank 9, added on November 27, 2019.
  • New Melee Weapons like the US Baseball Bat and GE Baseball Bat added on November 6, 2019.
• Balance Adjustments:
  • Weapon Balancing Adjustments on October 1, 2020, decreased the effects of weapon modifications to balance new and veteran players.
  • Various weapon range and accuracy adjustments made on May 26, 2020, improved gameplay dynamics.
• Seasonal Events:
  • War #1000 Celebration Event celebrated the milestone with daily Ribbon Booster giveaways and a screenshot competition on October 6, 2020.
  • The War Summer Event ran from July 9 to July 30, 2020, featuring weekly rewards based on player performance.
• New Mechanics:
  • Indefinite Sprinting with Fatigue Management launched on February 27, 2020, allowing players to sprint indefinitely while managing weapon sway based on fatigue.

Year 3 saw the launch of the Gravedigger Event on October 15, 2019, introducing exclusive shovel skins and competitive objectives. The year also featured a significant update on October 2, 2019, which added three new machine guns, new game modes, and enhanced infantry scopes. Other notable additions included new recon vehicles and a tank vs. tank game mode.

• New Game Modes:
  • Capture & Hold Tank mode launched on March 27, 2019, for 8 vs. 8 tank battles.
  • Recon vs. Recon and Pilot vs. Pilot modes were introduced on October 2, 2019.

• New Weapons and Vehicles:
  • Three new machine guns, including the German Maschinengewehr 13 and Soviet Maxim-Tokarev, were added on October 2, 2019.
  • The introduction of new anti-tank weapons, like the US Bazooka M9A1 and German PanzerBüchse-39, occurred on January 22, 2019.
  • New recon vehicles, including the American T8E1 Stuart Recce and German Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma, were added on June 4, 2019.

• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • War Experience was centralized, allowing every battle to count towards the war, as of June 4, 2019.
  • Matchmaking optimizations were implemented on May 1, 2019, to enhance player experience.

• Seasonal Events:
  • The Gravedigger Event began on October 15, 2019, offering players the chance to earn unique rewards.
  • The Battle of Dunkirk War Event launched on June 4, 2019, providing advantages for the US faction.

• Balance Changes:
  • Armor model tweaks were made on January 22, 2019, adjusting hitpoints for various vehicle types.
  • Anti-tank weaponry adjustments were introduced on the same date, removing several existing weapons for balance.

The introduction of the new Flexible Deploy System and the comprehensive updates to vehicle mechanics marked a significant shift in gameplay for Heroes & Generals during its second year. Players enjoyed a more adaptable combat experience, with the ability to switch roles during battles and a revamped armor and damage system that enhanced vehicle interactions. Additionally, a new terrain system was implemented, affecting vehicle performance based on terrain type.

• New Systems:
  • Flexible Deploy System: Allowed players to switch roles during battle for greater tactical flexibility (October 2, 2018).
  • New Armor System: Introduced realistic armor properties for all vehicle models (October 2, 2018).
  • Terrain System: Vehicles now handle differently depending on the terrain type (October 2, 2018).
  • Damage System: Vehicles can be damaged or immobilized by targeting critical components (October 2, 2018).

• New Content:
  • Skirmish Map 'Khutor': A new map set in Eastern European marshlands, enhancing the game's tactical variety (June 21, 2018).
  • New Encounter Map 'Colmar Hamlet': Added for strategic gameplay in the encounter mode (December 14, 2017).
  • New Vehicle Types: Introduction of the Universal-1 Tractor for transportation and cover (July 10, 2018).

• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • Component-Based Damage System: Damage now affects individual vehicle components, adding depth to combat tactics (October 6, 2018).
  • Updated Vehicle Handling: Physics and handling of all vehicles received a complete overhaul (October 2, 2018).
  • Wrecks as Temporary Cover: Destroyed vehicles now provide cover on the battlefield (October 2, 2018).

• Seasonal Events:
  • Two Year Launch Anniversary: Offered players a free 3-day Veteran Membership as a celebration (September 20, 2018).
  • Gamescom Free Helmet Paint: Players could claim a special helmet paint using a voucher code (August 21, 2018).

The year since the launch of Heroes & Generals saw the introduction of the significant 1.08 - Planes & Ladders update, which added multiple new fighter planes for each faction, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 for the Soviets and the Seversky P-35A for the US. Additionally, the Basic Training Tutorial was implemented, helping new players learn essential game mechanics.

• New Content:
  • New Fighter Planes: The update introduced several new medium fighters, including the Messerschmitt Bf109D-1 for Germany and the Curtiss P-40N Warhawk for the US.
  • First Aid Kits: Players gained the ability to use First Aid Kits to heal themselves and teammates, enhancing team support dynamics.
  • Tutorial Bots: Bots were added to assist new players during matches, making it easier to learn the game.

• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • Updated Flight Model: All planes received an updated flight model, improving controls and speed.
  • Kill Assist Feature: Players earned rewards for damaging enemies, allowing for XP and credits through assists.
  • New Combat Training Tasks: Tutorial tasks were introduced to help players master movement and combat basics.

• Seasonal Events:
  • 1-Year Launch Anniversary Celebration: Players enjoyed special offers and free membership to mark the anniversary of the game's launch.
  • Gamescom Week Promotions: Players received vouchers for free ribbon boosters and membership during the Gamescom celebrations.

• Balance Changes:
  • Weapon Adjustments: The MG 42, M1/M2, and Johnson weapons received tweaks for better balance in gameplay.
  • Yak-9 and Warhawk Unlock Changes: The Yak-9 and Warhawk were moved to higher unlock grades, altering the progression for players.

• New Care Bundle: A new bundle became available, offering a selection of items including handguns, First Aid Kits, and membership boosts.